Yonge Street Media: TRIEC’s mentoring program gets a bang—and some bank—for its bucks

“One of the the things that we say is central to our organization is that when immigrants prosper, we all prosper,” says Margaret Eaton, Executive Director of the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council. TRIEC now has the numbers to back up that belief: a recently completed study by the Boston Consulting Group showed that, for every dollar invested in immigrant and newcomer mentoring, society sees a $10.50 return.

TRIEC partners with agencies across the GTA to identify unemployed and underemployed newcomers to Canada, who are then matched with mentors in their field. “They learn what it’s like in the Canadian workplace,” says Eaton, with mock interviews and resume reviews. The mentors also help newcomers grow their professional networks. “They must connect their mentee with five connections in their field. 80% of the job market is that hidden job market, so we try to the immigrant that advantage,” Eaton explains.